Chapter 41: Another Spring
“Huaitian…”
Wen Ning’an saw Feng Qi leading the imperial army to resolve the Li family’s army’s predicament and fighting the enemy, shouting, “All troops, prepare your bows, get ready to fire!”
With a “swish,” rows of bows and arrows were pointed at the enemy below the sand dune, arrows nocked and ready to be released. The soldiers of the Left Army pulled their bows to their limit, until they made a “creaking” sound, just waiting for Wen Ning’an’s order to release the talismans of death.
Below, Feng Qi was exchanging blows with the commander of the enemy reinforcements, a tall man. The man’s helmet was very special, the iron armor almost completely covering his face, making it impossible to see his features.
Under Feng Qi’s overwhelming attack, the man was retreating step by step, gradually losing his strength. He took a deep breath and gathered his energy, about to make a desperate final blow, when an arrow suddenly hit him in the back. Fresh blood flowed, and the long sword in his hand lost its aim.
Wen Ning’an stood on the sand dune, his gaze sharp, his lips pursed in concentration. He reached back and took another arrow from the quiver on his back, nocked it on his bow, and aimed at the man.
Feng Qi smiled, suddenly remembering a long time ago, before they were even fifteen, when they had been in a similar situation. At that time, he had held a dagger and faced a wild beast without fear, and Wen Ning’an had been behind him, always his most solid fortress, his safest haven. He held a bow while he held a knife, and they had managed to kill the beast. Later, after he ascended the throne, Wen Ning’an had traveled everywhere to build a peaceful country, but had never taken credit for it.
Because of Wen Ning’an, I am invincible…
A rain of arrows came from the sand dune, breaking through the wind and sand and sweeping towards the enemy army.
And the man, under the combined attack of Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an, was finally defeated. The long sword in his hand was swatted away by Feng Qi, and he was cut down from his horse. The man let out a low roar, his eyes full of unwillingness, but he was powerless to resist.
This… this is simply a monster!
Feng Qi turned to his adjutant. “Capture him.”
Feng Qi wanted to leave a live one. It would be useful, especially one of such high rank.
“Yes!”
The You King’s army had long been defeated under the pincer attack of the Left Army and the Li family’s army, and the later reinforcements had also been intercepted by Feng Qi’s troops. So, as expected, they had suffered a crushing defeat.
Bei Miao was victorious, and the news of victory spread through the battlefield like it had wings. The sound of war drums could be heard for several li, echoing through the clouds. The banners flew proudly in the dust and smoke, and no amount of wind and sand could stop the soldiers’ shouts.
“Long live Bei Miao—”
“His Majesty is mighty—the God of War is mighty—”
On the battlefield, blades and swords have no eyes. Throughout history, countless people have turned to a handful of yellow earth in this place. After a victory, joy filled their hearts, and the ecstasy was hard to suppress. But later, when cleaning up the battlefield and seeing the fields of corpses and mangled remains, there was only a sense of sorrow.
At this moment, night had quietly fallen, and the sandstorm had stopped. On the battlefield, soldiers were dealing with the bodies and detaining the prisoners. The army physicians, led by Fang Qingqing, were treating the wounded soldiers. When treating, they did not distinguish between friend and foe, only the severity of the wounds. After all, Bei Miao’s original intention was not to slaughter these prisoners.
The desert seemed to have returned to peace, with only the rustling of the wind and sand. But this peace was broken late at night. The first battle had been fought beautifully, a victorious start, and the soldiers’ morale was high. They celebrated all night at the victory banquet, not feeling tired. Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi sat together in the seat of honor. Whether it was because the noise and laughter around them drowned out people’s voices or for some other reason, neither of them spoke.
By the time they returned to their respective tents to catch up on sleep, it was the latter half of the night. If not for the many more battles that required their full attention, everyone would have stayed up all night.
After bathing, Wen Ning’an lay on his bed, but he felt his heart was still beating like a drum, and he couldn’t fall asleep at all.
Today, when he had led the troops into the enemy’s heartland to kill Duolong, he had felt the blood in his veins boil. As usual after a battle, his body had not yet adapted to the sudden calm, as if it were still immersed in that place of smoke and fire. In the past, he would be fine after a night’s sleep, but now…
The days he had been imprisoned by Feng Qi before coming to the frontier… his body, which had been trained day and night, had not been caressed for so long, and under today’s agitation, it finally erupted.
In the empty tent, Wen Ning’an buried his head in the covers, his breathing gradually quickening.
Those few days, Feng Qi had been exploring and conquering his body with real weapons almost without pause. Even for a moment’s departure, he had to have him hold… his body seemed to have been developed to its limit, even frighteningly accustomed to it. The more Wen Ning’an thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt. He wished he could just knock his shameless self out.
And today, Feng Qi had even come in person, leading the army himself. As arrogant and domineering as ever, clearing obstacles for him.
Wen Ning’an could no longer hold back. He reached his hand into his undergarments and began to touch himself.
“Ngh…”
A flush spread across his cheeks. Wen Ning’an reached out with his other hand and slowly slid it into the secret place behind him.
“Huaitian…”
The small space was filled with an amorous and ambiguous air. Wen Ning’an’s eyes lifted slightly, and he saw a blurry figure standing by the door, watching him with its arms crossed.
…Feng Qi?!
Wen Ning’an’s face turned pale. How come no one announced him!
Seeing Feng Qi raise an eyebrow, a mischievous and thoughtful smile on his lips, Wen Ning’an’s face turned blue. He was about to withdraw his hand when he heard Feng Qi shout, “Don’t move!”
Feng Qi sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped one arm around Wen Ning’an’s waist, and reached his other hand into his undergarments to lend him a hand. And the hand that was wrapped around his waist also slowly slipped to his back, held his hand, and pushed forward forcefully.
“…Ngh!” Wen Ning’an’s toes even curled up.
“Your Majesty, don’t. I beg you to stop…”
Hearing this form of address, Feng Qi couldn’t help but frown, a strange look flashing in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, Feng Qi finally withdrew his hands, just holding Wen Ning’an and saying gently, “I won’t bully you. Just let me help you finish?”
A scene of spring. After it was over, Wen Ning’an leaned against Feng Qi’s embrace, feeling a little awkward. He slowly moved his body away and said respectfully, “What brings Your Majesty to visit so late at night?”
Feng Qi gritted his teeth inwardly. He said we weren’t suitable to be together, and now he’s really distancing himself from me!
“Nothing. Just came to see you.”
Feng Qi didn’t tease as he usually did, just asking, “Am I staying tonight?”
Wen Ning’an turned his head away, his hands slightly clutching the bedsheets as if he were considering how to refuse tactfully, for fear that Feng Qi would get angry.
“It’s alright. Next time.” Seeing that Wen Ning’an seemed to be in a difficult position, Feng Qi immediately stood up, smiled, and tucked him in. “I’m leaving. You rest well. Sweet dreams.”
Watching Feng Qi disappear from the doorway, he really left? He had thought Feng Qi would pester him or put on a straight face and command him, forcing him to stay…
Wen Ning’an let out a sigh of relief. He had escaped a disaster. He pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep, hypnotizing himself to forget what had happened today.
And outside the tent, seeing Feng Qi walk out, Eunuch Fu had originally been worried that he would be angry because he couldn’t sleep with Wen Ning’an. But unexpectedly, he saw Feng Qi’s face was full of the spring breeze, radiant.
Fu Che let out a sigh of relief and also smiled. “His Majesty is in a very good mood.”
Feng Qi smiled at the bright silver moon.
It’s as if I’ve seen hope! Heaven knows how much effort he had just put in to suppress his own desires, just for fear of losing control in front of Wen Ning’an.
He didn’t want Wen Ning’an to remember the mad state he had been in when he had imprisoned him in the palace, and thus become more and more afraid of him, eventually treating him no differently from the other ministers, with only reverence and consideration.
The ambitious Feng Qi had not been happy for long when a sharp pain suddenly came from his chest, as if ten thousand needles had suddenly pierced his heart.
Seeing Feng Qi break out in a cold sweat, his left hand pressing tightly on his chest, his face pale as he bent over slightly, Fu Che was so scared his soul almost flew out.
“Your Majesty!”
“Shh—”
Before Fu Che could say anything, Feng Qi placed his index finger to his lips to stop him from continuing.
“Don’t let Yixin hear.”
Feng Qi waved his hand for Fu Che not to follow and, pulling over a horse, rode off into the deserted yellow sand. After circulating my energy and venting for a while, I should be able to get through it…
Master has already gone out to sea to find an antidote and a solution. I just hope he can come back before I’m a corpse. Feng Qi was not afraid of death, but he was afraid that after he died, he would never see Wen Ning’an again. What if what the ancient books and shamans said were all false, and there was no underworld and no afterlife, just a blank slate after death with no more Wen Ning’an? Or what if he drank that Meng Po’s soup and forgot Wen Ning’an? What would he do then?
Absolutely… cannot die!
The night sky was clear, and the desert had only two colors—the inky black of the sky and the golden yellow of the earth, monotonous yet magnificent. A small whirlwind kicked up the yellow sand, swirling in the air not far from the ground.
Feng Qi let his horse run wild, just vaguely remembering the route to avoid getting lost. The horse’s hooves left a string of clearly visible prints on the yellow sand.
The temperature difference between day and night in the desert was vast. During the day, the skin exposed to the sun would sting from the heat, but at night, a cold wind would blow into one’s mouth, seeping through the skin and into the heart, making one feel cold from the inside out.
Feng Qi had prepared a large coat, and at this moment, the mink fur was blown up by the wind.
The inner energy in his body began to run amok. Feng Qi felt uncomfortable all over, gritting his teeth in pain as if his bones were being kneaded.
Feng Qi could no longer hold it back. With a loud roar, he released the inner energy that was about to overflow and tear him apart into the sand.
Boom—
The sand within a li suddenly erupted upwards, and for a moment, it was as if a fence had been built around Feng Qi. His ears were even ringing from the shock.
“Young hero, good martial arts.”
After the sand and stones had all landed, Feng Qi saw an old man carrying a bundle and a bamboo basket, smiling at him from not far away.
At this moment, Feng Qi’s eyes were bloodshot, and his palms were trembling.
“If the young hero doesn’t mind, let’s have a match. This old man will help you vent.” With that, the old man put down his bundle and bamboo basket and slightly adjusted his posture. He looked quite professional, clearly knowing martial arts.
Feng Qi felt he was going mad. Panting heavily, he didn’t care who the person in front of him was. He leaped from his horse and rushed at the old man with a powerful momentum. The old man’s eyes showed no fear. He shook his head and smiled. “Annihilating Yang White Bone, it truly lives up to its reputation. This old man is lucky today.”
Two figures moved under the night sky, as fast as lightning, as fierce as a flood or a wild beast.
